Product Designer, Arena (Remote)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer, Arena (Remote)

Company: Gray Swan AI

Location: United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: 2026-05-05

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and enhance Gray Swan AI's Arena user interface across both web and mobile platforms, focusing on intuitive user experiences for complex technical workflows.

• Take full ownership of design projects, guiding them from initial concept and sketching through to production-ready specifications.

• Contribute to the development and maintenance of a robust design system, including UI components and visual patterns.

• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including product, engineering, ML research, and go-to-market (GTM) departments.

• Apply visual and persuasive design principles to create engaging and trustworthy user flows, particularly within a gamified context.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is heavily focused on product UI/UX design with a strong emphasis on translating complex technical functionalities into user-friendly interfaces. The "Arena" context suggests a platform where users interact with or test AI systems, likely involving elements of gamification or competitive features. The remote nature and startup environment imply a need for high initiative and self-direction.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the design and iterative improvement of the Gray Swan AI Arena's user interface, ensuring a seamless experience on both web and mobile applications.

• Drive the end-to-end design process, from ideation and wireframing to high-fidelity mockups and detailed production specifications.

• Develop clear, concise, and engaging user experiences that simplify complex technical workflows for AI system testing and monitoring.

• Integrate principles of visual design and persuasive design to enhance user engagement and build trust in the platform's capabilities.

• Actively contribute to and maintain the company's design system, ensuring consistency and scalability of UI components and visual standards across products.

• Foster strong collaborative relationships with product managers, engineers, AI/ML researchers, and GTM specialists to align design efforts with business objectives and user needs.

• Provide support for ad-hoc design requests, demonstrating flexibility and a willingness to contribute across various projects in a fast-paced startup environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility of "contributing to ad hoc design needs" is a common characteristic of early-stage startups, highlighting the need for adaptability and a broad skill set beyond core design tasks. This implies the candidate should be comfortable with ambiguity and ready to support various aspects of product development.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent practical experience and understanding of design principles is paramount.

Experience: Minimum of 2+ years of professional experience in product UI/UX design.

Required Skills:

• Proven expertise in product UI/UX design, with a preference for experience in gamified consumer applications, tooling, or chat interfaces.

• Proficiency in modern design and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite, InVision).

• Strong understanding of user-centered design principles and methodologies.

• Demonstrated ability to conduct and apply insights from usability testing.

• Skill in visual design, creating aesthetically pleasing and functional interfaces.

• Experience with persuasive design techniques to influence user behavior and engagement.

• Ability to create and maintain UI components and manage style guides and component libraries within a design system.

• Excellent cross-functional collaboration and communication skills, essential for working with diverse teams.

Preferred Skills:

• Prior experience working within an early-stage startup environment.

• Familiarity with AI safety principles, ethical considerations in AI, or the broader AI landscape.

• Basic understanding of front-end development (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) or coding skills to better collaborate with engineers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "balancing the need of technical users with creating playful design" is a critical nuance for this role, suggesting the need for a creative yet practical design approach for a B2B/enterprise product with gamified elements. The company explicitly states they value capability over credentials, making a strong portfolio and demonstrated skills more important than formal education or a perfect match on preferred skills.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 2+ years of professional UI/UX design work, with a focus on projects demonstrating the ability to translate complex technical concepts into user-friendly interfaces.

• Include case studies that highlight experience with gamified consumer apps, tooling, or chat interfaces, if applicable.

• Demonstrate proficiency in modern design and prototyping tools through clear visual examples.

• Present examples of user-centered design principles in action, including research, ideation, and iteration.

• Feature projects where usability testing was conducted and its outcomes influenced design decisions.

• Include examples of visual design work and how persuasive design principles were applied.

Process Documentation:

• For each case study, detail the end-to-end design process undertaken, from initial problem definition and user research to final implementation and post-launch analysis.

• Clearly articulate the collaboration process with engineering, product, and other stakeholders, illustrating how feedback was incorporated.

• Document the iterative nature of the design process, including any pivots or significant changes based on user feedback or technical constraints.

• Provide clear explanations of the design choices made, supported by user needs and business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the interview process includes a "Portfolio Presentation" where candidates "Walk us through your portfolio. We’ll ask you questions to learn about your process," candidates must prepare to deeply articulate their design methodology, decision-making rationale, and collaborative approach for each project. The "Live Design" session further emphasizes the need for practical demonstration of design skills and process under pressure.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $87,975 - $157,169 per year

Explanation of Range: This range is competitive for a mid-level Product Designer in the US, considering the company's early-stage, well-funded status and the specialized nature of designing for AI security platforms like Gray Swan AI. The upper end reflects potential for candidates with extensive experience or highly relevant niche skills (e.g., gamification, AI tooling).

Benefits:

• Competitive equity package, reflecting the high-ownership environment.

• 401k with up to 4% matching, supporting long-term financial planning.

• Generous annual leave: 28 days, encompassing vacation and holidays.

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage.

• Catered lunches for employees in the Pittsburgh office (note: this may not apply to fully remote employees outside of commuting distance).

• Flexible work arrangements, supporting work-life balance.

• Visa sponsorship available for exceptional candidates, broadening the talent pool.

Working Hours: The role implies a standard full-time workload, likely around 40 hours per week, with flexibility afforded by the remote arrangement and company culture that values initiative over strict hour tracking.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is provided and appears to align with industry standards for a Product Designer with 2-5 years of experience in the US tech sector. The mention of "competitive equity package" and "meaningful equity from day one" reinforces the startup's approach to incentivizing high performance and ownership. The catered lunch benefit is noted as specific to the Pittsburgh office, which is important context for remote candidates.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Security, AI Safety, Cybersecurity. Gray Swan AI operates at the forefront of AI security, developing solutions to protect organizations from emerging AI threats. This niche industry is rapidly evolving, requiring a proactive and informed approach to product development.

Company Size: Approximately 35 people. This small, dynamic size fosters a high-ownership culture where every team member's contribution is significant and directly impacts the company's trajectory.

Founded: The founding date is not explicitly stated, but the company is described as "well-funded" and "growing fast," indicating a mature startup phase with established product-market fit and significant growth potential.

Team Structure:

• The design team is described as "small but mighty," implying a close-knit unit that likely collaborates closely.

• The candidate will work closely with the "Arena Product team," indicating a focused product development group.

• Cross-functional collaboration is a key aspect, involving engineers, ML researchers, product managers, and GTM teams.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decisions: The company emphasizes practical, high-impact work and a sense of purpose, suggesting that design decisions will be informed by data, user feedback, and strategic objectives.

• Agile Development: The mention of moving "quickly" and "high-ownership" implies an agile or lean development methodology where rapid iteration and continuous improvement are valued.

• User-Centricity: While focused on technical workflows, the design emphasis on "clear, trustworthy, and refined product experiences" indicates a strong commitment to user-centric design principles.

Company Website: https://www.grayswan.ai/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's mission in AI safety is a strong cultural driver, attracting individuals passionate about the field. The small team size means more direct impact and visibility for individual contributions, a key draw for ambitious professionals. The culture prioritizes initiative and ownership over rigid processes, which is typical of well-funded, fast-growing startups.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Mid-Level Product Designer role, suitable for individuals with 2-5 years of dedicated experience. The responsibilities include end-to-end ownership of features and contributions to core product areas, indicating a significant level of autonomy and responsibility for someone at this stage.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will report to the UX Lead, providing mentorship and guidance. They will also collaborate closely with product managers, engineering leads, and ML researchers, offering exposure to various facets of product development and strategic decision-making.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct and significant impact on the user experience of Gray Swan AI's core "Arena" product. This product is crucial for their customers' ability to test, monitor, and secure AI systems. The design directly influences customer adoption, satisfaction, and the perceived trustworthiness and effectiveness of Gray Swan AI's solutions, thus impacting revenue and market positioning.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: As the company scales, there's an opportunity to help formalize design processes and potentially co-lead design initiatives, offering a path toward senior or lead design roles.

• Skill Specialization: Deepening expertise in AI safety, gamified interfaces, or complex tooling design, contributing to specialized knowledge within the company.

• Cross-Functional Expertise: Gaining broader experience in product management, GTM strategy, and ML research through close collaboration, potentially opening doors to product-focused roles or strategic initiatives.

• Startup Growth: Being part of a rapidly growing startup offers unparalleled opportunities to learn about business scaling, fundraising, and all aspects of building a company from the ground up.

📝 Enhancement Note: The phrase "As we scale, you'll help formalize our design processes and co-lead design initiatives" is a strong indicator of future growth potential within the design function. This suggests that beyond executing design tasks, the company is looking for someone who can contribute to establishing design best practices and potentially mentor future hires.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. The company offers flexible work arrangements, with no mandatory in-office days for this specific role. However, it's noted that the Pittsburgh office offers catered lunches, suggesting a physical presence for some employees.

Office Location(s): Primarily remote within the United States. While the company has an office in Pittsburgh, the role is designated as remote.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role emphasizes close collaboration with product, engineering, and research teams, facilitated through digital tools and regular communication.

• Tools and Technology: Expect to use modern design and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch) and collaborate via platforms like Slack, Zoom, and project management software. Access to design system components and established workflows is expected.

• Team Interaction: While remote, regular virtual meetings, stand-ups, and design critiques will be integral to team interaction and knowledge sharing.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (estimated 40 hours/week) are expected, with flexibility in how those hours are managed due to the remote nature of the work. The emphasis on "high ownership" and "moving quickly" suggests a dynamic schedule where deliverables and collaboration take precedence over strict adherence to a 9-to-5 structure.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a remote role, understanding the company's approach to virtual collaboration, communication cadence, and team-building is crucial. The mention of catered lunches in Pittsburgh is a small detail but highlights a potential hybrid element for some team members, which could influence how remote collaboration is structured.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Application Review: Thorough review of submitted applications, with a focus on the portfolio.

2. Intro Call (30 min): An initial conversation to assess mutual fit, discuss the role in more detail, and allow the candidate to learn about Gray Swan AI.

3. Portfolio Presentation (60 min): Candidates will present their portfolio, with interviewers probing into their design process, decision-making, and problem-solving approach.

4. Live Design (75 min): A practical exercise to evaluate the candidate's design skills, problem-solving abilities in real-time, and how they approach design challenges.

5. Reference Checks: Verification of past performance and professional conduct through references provided by the candidate.

6. Offer: A swift offer process if the mutual fit is confirmed.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 of your strongest projects that best showcase your UI/UX skills, particularly those involving complex technical workflows, gamification, or tooling.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed (research, ideation, design, testing, iteration), the challenges you faced, and the impact of your solutions. Use visuals effectively to support your narrative.

• Highlight Process: Be prepared to discuss why you made certain design decisions. Emphasize your user-centered approach, how you incorporated feedback, and how you collaborated with stakeholders.

• Showcase "Arena" Relevance: If you have experience with gamified interfaces, chat UIs, or building tools for technical users, ensure these projects are prominently featured.

• Design System Contribution: If you've worked on design systems, component libraries, or style guides, demonstrate your understanding of scalability and consistency.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: Research Gray Swan AI, their mission in AI safety, and the "Arena" product. Think about the unique challenges of designing for AI security and competitive user experiences.

• Practice Design Exercises: Be ready for a live design prompt. Practice rapid ideation, sketching, and articulating your thought process under time constraints. Focus on problem decomposition and presenting a clear, actionable solution.

• Prepare Questions: Have thoughtful questions ready for each interviewer to demonstrate your engagement and interest in the role, team, and company.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Live Design" session is a critical part of the evaluation. Candidates should prepare to demonstrate how they approach a new design problem, think critically, and communicate their ideas effectively, likely involving sketching or wireframing on a shared digital whiteboard. The portfolio presentation is explicitly about understanding the candidate's process, not just the final output.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Proficiency in modern tools such as Figma, Sketch, or Adobe Creative Suite is essential. Figma is often preferred in collaborative remote environments for its real-time collaboration features.

• Design System Management: Experience with tools and methodologies for building, maintaining, and scaling design systems and component libraries.

• Collaboration Tools: Familiarity with platforms like Slack for communication, Zoom for meetings, and project management tools (e.g., Jira, Asana, Trello) for workflow tracking.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Less directly relevant for a Product Designer, but awareness of how design impacts user journeys within CRM systems or automated workflows can be a plus. Understanding how design contributes to user adoption and engagement within a broader GTM strategy is valuable.

📝 Enhancement Note: The job description explicitly mentions "Proficient in modern design and prototyping tools," underscoring the need for candidates to highlight their expertise in specific software. Experience with collaborative design tools like Figma is highly recommended given the remote and cross-functional nature of the role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• High Impact & Ownership: A core value is the expectation that employees take significant responsibility and drive impactful work, contributing directly to the company's success.

• Mission-Focused: A strong sense of purpose around AI safety and security, uniting the team behind a meaningful objective.

• Collaboration & Initiative: Valuing teamwork across departments while also encouraging individuals to take initiative and push projects forward without constant direction.

• Craftsmanship & Quality: A deep appreciation for high standards in product design and development, aiming for refined and trustworthy user experiences.

• Speed & Agility: The ability to move quickly, iterate rapidly, and adapt to evolving challenges and opportunities in a fast-paced startup environment.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: The design team works closely with product, engineering, and research, requiring strong communication and empathy to understand diverse perspectives and technical constraints.

• Feedback-Driven: An environment where constructive feedback is shared and incorporated to elevate the quality of the product.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of insights, best practices, and learnings across the team to foster collective growth and problem-solving.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's emphasis on "high ownership" and "moving quickly" suggests a culture that values proactivity and results over bureaucracy. The mission-driven aspect of AI safety is likely a significant factor in attracting and retaining talent, creating a team united by a shared purpose.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Translating Complex AI Concepts: The primary challenge will be simplifying highly technical AI security concepts and workflows into intuitive and accessible user interfaces for a diverse user base.

• Balancing Technical Needs with User Experience: Designing for technical users requires understanding their specific needs and workflows, while simultaneously creating an engaging and "playful" experience, which can be a delicate balance.

• Startup Pace and Ambiguity: Working in an early-stage startup means adapting to rapid changes, evolving priorities, and potentially undefined processes, requiring flexibility and resilience.

• Remote Collaboration: Maintaining strong communication, collaboration, and team cohesion effectively in a fully remote setting.

• Evolving AI Landscape: Staying abreast of rapid advancements in AI security and safety to ensure the product remains relevant and effective.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Design Skills: Opportunities to deepen expertise in areas like gamification design, advanced UI/UX for technical tools, and AI-specific user interfaces.

• Product Strategy Exposure: Close collaboration with product and engineering offers exposure to product strategy, roadmapping, and business development.

• Design System Development: Contributing to and potentially leading the evolution of a growing design system.

• Mentorship: Learning from a UX Lead and experienced cross-functional team members.

• Industry Knowledge: Gaining deep insights into the rapidly growing field of AI safety and security.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company explicitly states, "If you don’t meet 100% of these, you should still seriously consider applying. We care more about what you can do than your credentials." This indicates a culture that values potential and a willingness to learn, presenting a significant growth opportunity for candidates who are eager to develop their skills.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design for a highly technical audience. What were the key challenges, and how did you approach them?" (Focus on user research, simplifying complexity, and user testing.)

• "Walk us through a project where you significantly improved an existing user flow or interface. What was the problem, your solution, and the measurable impact?" (Prepare a case study highlighting iterative design and data-driven improvements.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Gray Swan AI's mission in AI safety, and how do you see your design skills contributing to it?" (Research the company's mission and articulate your personal connection.)

• "Describe your ideal collaborative environment. How do you work with engineers, product managers, and other stakeholders?" (Highlight your cross-functional communication skills and ability to integrate feedback.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, follow a clear arc: Problem -> Your Role -> Process -> Solution -> Impact.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics (e.g., conversion rates, engagement increases, task completion times) to demonstrate the success of your designs.

• Showcase Your Process: Be ready to explain why you made specific design choices. Discuss your research methods, user testing outcomes, and how you iterated based on feedback.

• Highlight Collaboration: Describe how you worked with developers, product managers, and other stakeholders, and how you navigated disagreements or incorporated their input.

• Emphasize "Arena" Relevance: If you have relevant projects (gamification, complex tools, chat interfaces), make them a focal point.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process includes a "Live Design" session. Candidates should anticipate a prompt related to designing a feature or improving an existing flow for the Arena product. Preparation should include thinking about how to quickly sketch, wireframe, and articulate design rationale under pressure, and how to collaborate with an interviewer during the exercise.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application, including your resume and a link to your online portfolio, through the provided link on Ashby.

• Tailor Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio prominently features projects that demonstrate your UI/UX design skills, especially those involving complex technical workflows, gamified interfaces, or tooling. Be prepared to walk through 2-3 key projects in detail.

• Optimize Your Resume: Highlight your 2+ years of professional experience, proficiency in modern design tools, and any relevant experience with design systems, user-centered design, and cross-functional collaboration. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare for the Portfolio Presentation: Practice articulating your design process, rationale, and the impact of your work for each project in your portfolio. Be ready to answer in-depth questions about your decision-making.

• Research Gray Swan AI: Understand the company's mission in AI safety, their product offerings (especially the Arena), and their culture of high ownership and fast-paced work. This will help you tailor your responses and ask insightful questions.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.